Jet eductor pump

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a synthetic jet eductor pump that includes a synthetic jet actuator coupled to a fluid conduit. The synthetic jet actuator may include a vibratable membrane, an actuating portion that vibrates the vibratable membrane, a pump chamber coupled to the vibratable membrane, and a pump conduit in fluid communication with the pump chamber such that vibration of the membrane draws fluid into and ejects fluid from the pump conduit to create a net momentum of fluid in a predetermined direction. The fluid conduit may include a jet receiving portion between intake and ejection portions thereof, wherein the jet receiving portion is in fluid communication with the pump conduit. The net momentum of fluid created by the synthetic jet actuator may be communicated to the fluid conduit at the jet receiving portion to create fluid flow in the fluid conduit from the intake portion to the ejection portion.

This application claims priority to U.S. patent application No. 61/100,413 filed 22 Sep. 26, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention pertains to a synthetic jet eductor pump.

Conventional pumps often utilize numerous complex moving parts to move fluid from one place to another. These pumps often have high manufacturing and maintenance costs due to their numerous components and associated mechanical complexity. In certain delicate uses such as, for example, medical applications, conventional pumps may be even more costly. As such, low-complexity pump designs may be desirable.

In some applications, lower complexity pumps may include injector or aspirator-type pumps, wherein a stationary jet of motive fluid is used to pump a second fluid from one place to another. However, these types of aspirator-type pumps carry the disadvantage of mingling the fluid to be pumped with the motive fluid. This is especially disadvantageous when the fluid to be pumped is chemically reactive, contaminated, etc. Additionally, these aspirator-type pumps require a constant supply of motive fluid, which can add to operating costs. Furthermore, in some instances, difficulty may arise when disposing of the motive fluid, especially once it has mingled with the fluid to be pumped.

These and other problems exist.

The invention solving these and other problems in the art provides a low-cost, reliable fluid pump that provides a motive force within a fluid conduit without the need for a separate flow of motive fluid.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a synthetic jet eductor pump that includes a synthetic jet coupled into a tube or other conduit where fluid to be pumped is or will be present (a “fluid tube” or “fluid conduit”), wherein a pumping action through the fluid tube is established due to the net momentum injected by the synthetic jet. The synthetic jet may include a loudspeaker device that is coupled to a pump conduit via a chamber. The loudspeaker may include a vibratable membrane and an actuating portion. In some embodiments, the membrane may be made to vibrate using electromagnetic methods. In some embodiments, other methods may be used to cause the membrane to vibrate.

Vibration of the membrane expands and contracts the volume of the chamber, therefore causing air or other fluid to be alternately drawn into and expelled out of an outlet portion of the pump conduit. At intake, air (or other fluid) is drawn into the pump conduit from all directions. However, when the air (or other fluid) is pushed out again, flow separation results in the formation of a directed jet. This jet is constituted from the fluid surrounding the outlet portion of the pump conduit and on average no (mass of) fluid is thus injected into the surroundings of the outlet of the pump conduit. However, due to the difference between intake and outflow (i.e., fluid drawn in from a broadening or larger region of space, and ejected outwards into a relatively narrow stream of space), the synthetic jet actuator does provide a net “injection” of momentum into the surroundings of the outlet of the pump conduit.

The synthetic jet actuator may be used to establish a net momentum and thus a pumping action on a fluid through a fluid conduit. The fluid conduit may include an intake portion, an ejection portion, and at least one jet receiving portion. The jet receiving portion of a fluid conduit according to various embodiments of the invention includes the area of the interior of the fluid conduit wherein a directed jet of fluid introduces a net momentum into the fluid conduit in a particular direction. The jet of fluid that causes a net momentum from a synthetic jet is constituted from fluid surrounding the pump conduit, thus no secondary fluid flow generated by a separate pump is needed. The outlet portion of the pump conduit of the synthetic jet actuator is coupled in parallel in a fluid conduit at the jet receiving portion of the fluid conduit.

The net momentum flux injected by the synthetic jet establishes a pumping action through the fluid conduit. As such, when the intake portion of a fluid conduit is placed in communication with a source of fluid, the net momentum communicated to the fluid conduit at the jet receiving portion causes a flow of through the fluid conduit such that fluid is drawn into the intake portion of the fluid conduit and through the fluid conduit towards the ejection portion of the fluid conduit. The concept can be scaled to different sizes, as necessary.

In some embodiments, the loudspeaker of a synthetic jet actuator may be positioned in a closed box or sealed container so as to minimize sound radiation to the exterior.

In some embodiments, a dipole synthetic jet actuator can be employed. This may minimize both the sound radiated to the exterior and the interior of the fluid conduit. A dipole synthetic jet eductor pump according to various embodiments of the invention may include a loudspeaker that is positioned within a box or sealed container such that the membrane of the loudspeaker creates two chambers within the box. The membrane creates an airtight barrier between the two chambers such that the first chamber is isolated on a first side of the membrane and forms a first pump chamber. Likewise, a second chamber is isolated on a second side of the membrane and forms a second pump chamber. Additionally, a pump conduit is in fluid communication with each of the two chambers. Thus, the movement of the membrane alternately compresses and expands the two chambers. Therefore, the pump conduits alternately supply synthetic jets to a fluid conduit at jet receiving portions within the fluid conduit, thereby communicating first and second net momentums to the fluid conduit, resulting in a pumping action through the fluid conduit from the intake portion to the ejection portion.

In some embodiments, the outlets of pump conduits (and therefore the jet receiving portions of the corresponding fluid conduit) may be located generally at the same point of fluid flow in the fluid conduit. In some embodiments, the two pump conduit outlets (and therefore the jet receiving portions of the corresponding fluid conduit) of a dipole synthetic jet actuator may be coupled into a fluid tube successively along the fluid flow. Due to the fact that the synthetic jets, emerging from the two outlets are in anti-phase, this can establish, with proper distance between the outlets, a ‘peristaltic motion’ through the fluid tube, which may enhance the pumping action. Furthermore, the distance between the outlets can also be chosen such that acoustic waves in the tube are optimally suppressed.

In some embodiments, multiple synthetic jet actuators may be configured successively in a fluid conduit/tube. These actuators may each be either of the normal monopole type or of the dipole type. In some embodiments, the phase difference between the successive synthetic jets may be adjusted as desired. For example, this phase difference may be tuned such that an optimal performance in pumping action (e.g., peristaltic action), low noise generation, and/or other results are obtained.

Synthetic jet eductor pumps according to various embodiments of the invention may be used in various applications, including any application wherein a pumping action created by a net momentum of fluid through a conduit is needed or desired. In some instances, for example, a synthetic jet eductor pump according to various embodiments of the invention may be used in conjunction with sidestream fluid analysis. Sidestream fluid analysis typically refers to transporting fluid away from a mainstream flow of fluid and measuring one or more characteristics of the fluid in the transported sample at location remote from the mainstream flow of fluid. For example, the mainstream flow of fluid may be the exhaled breath of a patient hooked up to a respirator. A diverter/adaptor may remove a portion of the gas traveling through the main airway of the respirator and transport that gas through a fluid conduit. The motive force used to remove the gas from the mainstream flow of fluid and through the fluid conduit may be a synthetic jet eductor pump according to various embodiments of the invention.

In some instances, a synthetic jet eductor pump according to various embodiments of the invention may be utilized in cooling applications, such as, for example, the cooling of electronics. This may be advantageous over other cooling devices in that air for cooling can be drawn from an area remote from the objects to be cooled, such that the air for cooling has a lower temperature than the objects or the air surrounding the objects.

Other uses of synthetic jet eductor pumps according to the invention will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, including those for pumping various fluids in varying applications. Furthermore, the various systems and apparatuses described herein may operate using various system configurations as appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, some embodiments may utilize more or less components than those described herein. In some embodiments, components may be duplicated and/or oriented differently.

These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

FIG. 1 is an example of a synthetic jet according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are examples of synthetic jet eductor pumps according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an example of a synthetic jet eductor pump having a sealed loudspeaker, according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an example of a dipole synthetic jet eductor pump according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an example of a dipole synthetic jet eductor pump according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a sidestream analysis system using a synthetic jet eductor pump, according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an example of a sensor assembly for a sidestream analysis system using a synthetic jet eductor pump, according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8 is an example of a cooling system using a synthetic jet eductor pump according to various embodiments of the invention.

One aspect of the invention provides a synthetic jet eductor pump that includes a synthetic jet coupled into a tube or other conduit where fluid to be pumped is or will be present (a “fluid tube” or “fluid conduit”), wherein a pumping action through the fluid tube is established due to the net momentum injected by the synthetic jet.

FIG. 1 illustrates a synthetic jet 100 according to some embodiments of the invention. The synthetic jet 100 may include a loudspeaker device 101 that is coupled to a pump conduit 103 via a chamber 105. The loudspeaker includes a vibratable membrane 107 and an actuating portion 109. In some embodiments, membrane 107 may be made to vibrate using electromagnetic methods. For example, in some embodiments, membrane 107 may include a wire coil, or other apparatus that creates a magnetic field when energized, attached thereto, while actuating portion 109 may include a stationary magnet. When the wire coil of membrane 107 is energized (e.g., by running an electric current through the wire coil), a magnetic field is created, which interacts with the stationary magnet of actuating portion 109. This interaction attracts and/or repulses the wire coil attached to membrane 107, thus causing membrane 107 to move. Thus, membrane 107 may be caused to vibrate by rapidly energizing and de-energizing the wire coil. In some embodiments, a magnet may be attached to membrane 107, while a wire coil is attached to actuating portion 109, wherein energizing the wire coil of actuating portion 109 creates a magnetic field that causes the magnet and thus membrane 107 to vibrate. In some embodiments, other methods may be used to cause membrane 107 to vibrate, such as, for example, one or more piezotransducers that convert electrical energy onto mechanical energy for vibrating membrane 107. Other methods of vibrating membrane 107 may also be used, such as, for example, electrostatic or other methods.

Vibration of membrane 107 expands and contracts the volume of the chamber, therefore causing air or other fluid to be alternately drawn into and expelled out of an outlet portion of pump conduit 103. As shown by the flow arrows in FIG. 1, at intake, air (or other fluid) is drawn into pump conduit 103 from all directions. However, when the air (or other fluid) is pushed out again, flow separation results in the formation of a directed jet. This jet is constituted from the fluid surrounding the outlet portion of pump conduit 103, and on average no (mass of) fluid is thus injected into the surroundings of the outlet of pump conduit 103. However, due to the difference between intake and outflow (i.e., fluid drawn in from a broadening or larger region of space, and ejected outwards into a relatively narrow stream of space), the actuator does provide a net ‘injection’ of momentum into the surroundings of the outlet of pump conduit 103.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate examples of synthetic jet eductor pumps 200 a and 200 b according to various embodiments of the invention. In each of jet eductor pumps 200 a and 200 b, synthetic jet actuator 100 is used to establish a net momentum and thus a pumping action on a fluid through fluid conduits 201 a and 201 b, respectively. Fluid conduits 201 a and 201 b each include intake portions (203 a and 203 b, respectively), ejection portions (205 a and 205 b, respectively), and at least one jet receiving portion (207 a and 207 b, respectively). The jet receiving portion of a fluid conduit, according to various embodiments of the invention, includes the area of the interior of the fluid conduit wherein a directed jet of fluid introduces a net momentum into the fluid conduit in a particular direction. The jet of fluid that causes a net momentum from a synthetic jet is constituted from fluid surrounding the pump conduit, thus no secondary fluid flow generated by a separate pump is needed.

In both synthetic jet eductor pump 200 a and 200 b, the outlet portion of pump conduit 103 of synthetic jet actuator 100 is coupled in parallel in a fluid conduit (i.e., 201 a or 201 b) at the jet receiving portion of the fluid conduit (i.e., 207 a and 207 b). In FIG. 2A, the synthetic jet actuator is coupled in a bend of fluid conduit 201 a such that jet receiving portion 207 a occurs in a part of fluid conduit 201 a so as to communicate the net momentum caused by the directed jet from synthetic jet actuator 100 to fluid conduit 201 a in the direction of ejection portion 205 a. In FIG. 2B, pump conduit 103 of the synthetic jet actuator itself is coupled through the side of fluid conduit 201 b and subsequently bent such that jet receiving portion 207 b occurs in a part of fluid conduit 201 b so as to communicate the net momentum caused by the directed jet from synthetic jet actuator 100 to fluid conduit 201 b in the direction of ejection portion 205 b. In both implementations, the net momentum flux injected by a synthetic jet establishes a pumping action through the fluid conduit (i.e., fluid conduits 201 a or 201 b) as indicated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. As such, when the intake portion of a fluid conduit (203 a or 203 b) is placed in communication with a source of fluid, the net momentum communicated to the fluid conduit at the jet receiving portion causes flow through the fluid conduit such that fluid is drawn into the intake portion of the fluid conduit and through the fluid conduit towards the ejection portion of the fluid conduit (205 a or 205 b). The concept can be scaled to different sizes, as necessary.

In some embodiments, the fluid conduit through which a fluid is to be pumped (e.g., 201 a, 201 b) may include an acoustical lining on the interior of the conduit so as to dampen sound. Furthermore, the inlet portion (e.g., 203 a, 203 b) and/or ejection portion (e.g., 205 a, 205 b) of a fluid conduit used in various embodiments of the invention may be constructed so as to avoid flow separation during intake and/or ejection of fluid through the fluid conduit. For example, a gradually converging or narrowed inlet portion and/or ejection portion, may avoid flow separation at these orifices. Furthermore, rounded edges at these orifices (inlet portions and ejection portions) may aid in avoiding flow separation. These measures further serve to discourage sound within a fluid conduit. Such sound may assist in causing flow separation, and thus jetting at the inlets and outlets of the fluid conduit, which may be undesirable.

In some embodiments, the loudspeaker of a synthetic jet actuator may be positioned in a closed box or sealed container so as to minimize sound radiation to the exterior. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a synthetic jet eductor pump 300 according to various embodiments of the invention, wherein the loudspeaker 101 of synthetic jet actuator 100 is positioned in a closed box 301. Jet eductor pump 300 also includes fluid conduit 201 having intake portion 203, ejection portion 205, and jet receiving portion 207.

In some embodiments, a dipole synthetic jet actuator can be employed. This may minimize the sound radiated to the exterior and the interior of the fluid conduit and/or may provide other features. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a dipole synthetic jet eductor pump 400 according to various embodiments of the invention, wherein loudspeaker 101 is positioned within box or sealed container 401 such that membrane 107 creates two chambers 405 a and 405 b, within box 401. Membrane 107 creates an airtight barrier between chamber 405 a and 405 b such that chamber 405 a is isolated on a first side of membrane 107 and forms a first pump chamber. Likewise, chamber 405 b is isolated on a second side of membrane 107 and forms a second pump chamber.

Pump conduits 403 a and 403 b are in fluid communication with chambers 405 a and 405 b, respectively. Thus, the movement of membrane 107 alternately compresses and expands chambers 405 a and 405 b (and thus the fluid therein). Therefore, pump conduits 403 a and 403 b alternately supply synthetic jets to fluid conduit 407 at jet receiving portions 413 and 415, thereby communicating first and second net momentums to fluid conduit 407, resulting in a pumping action through fluid conduit 407 from intake portion 409 to ejection portion 411.

Whereas, in some embodiments, the outlets of pump conduits (and therefore the jet receiving portions of the corresponding fluid conduit) may be located generally at the same point of fluid flow in the fluid conduit (see e.g., FIG. 4), in some embodiments, the two pump conduit outlets (and therefore the jet receiving portions of the corresponding fluid conduit) of a dipole synthetic jet actuator may be coupled into a fluid tube successively along the fluid flow. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a dipole synthetic jet eductor pump 501 according to various embodiments of the invention, wherein the outlets of two pump conduit outlets (and therefore jet receiving portions 513 and 515 of fluid conduit 507) are located successively along fluid flow within a fluid conduit. Synthetic jet eductor pump 501 includes loudspeaker 101 that is positioned in box or sealed container 501 such that membrane 107 creates two chambers 505 a and 505 b in box 501. Pump conduits 503 a and 503 b are coupled with chambers 505 a and 505 b, respectively. Therefore, pump conduits 503 a and 503 b alternately supply synthetic jets to fluid conduit 507, thereby communicating first and second net momentums to fluid conduit 507 at jet receiving portions 513 and 515, resulting in a pumping action through fluid conduit 507 from intake portion 509 to ejection portion 511. Due to the fact that the synthetic jets, emerging from the two outlets of 503 a and 503 b, are in anti-phase, this can establish, with proper distance between the outlets, a “peristaltic motion” through fluid tube 507, which may enhance the pumping action. Furthermore, the distance between the outlets can also be chosen such that acoustic waves in the tube are optimally suppressed. For example, if the outlets (and thus the jet receiving portions) are in antiphase, the distance between them would be n*λ. When the outlets are in phase, the distance between them would be (n+0.5)*λ. Here, n=0, 1, 2, . . . etc. and λ is the wavelength of the sound related to the “f” of the sound according to c=λ*f, with “c” being the speed of sound. Here, the frequency f may be the frequency with which the synthetic jet actuator is driven: f=f0. However, given that acoustic annoyance is often rather due to higher harmonics, the frequency f considered in the determining the optimal spacing of synthetic jet outlets may then be 2f0, 3f0, and so on.]

In some embodiments, multiple synthetic jet actuators may be configured successively in a fluid conduit/tube. These actuators may each be either of the normal monopole type or of the dipole type. In some embodiments, the phase difference between the successive synthetic jets may be adjusted as desired. For example, this phase difference may be tuned such that an optimal performance in pumping action (e.g., peristaltic action), low noise generation, and/or other features are obtained.

Synthetic jet eductor pumps according to various embodiments of the invention may be used in various applications, including any application wherein a pumping action created by a net momentum of fluid through a conduit is needed or desired. In some instances, for example, a synthetic jet eductor pump according to various embodiments of the invention may be used in conjunction with sidestream fluid analysis. Sidestream fluid analysis typically involves transporting fluid away from a mainstream flow of fluid and measuring one or more characteristics of the fluid in the transported sample at location remote from the mainstream flow of fluid. For example, the mainstream flow of fluid may be the exhaled breath of a patient hooked up to a respirator. A diverter/adaptor may remove a portion of the gas traveling through the main airway of the respirator and transport that gas through the fluid conduit of the synthetic jet eductor pump. The motive force used to remove the gas from the mainstream flow of fluid and through the fluid conduit may be a synthetic jet eductor pump according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a sidestream fluid analysis system 600 that utilizes a synthetic jet eductor pump according to various embodiments of the invention. System 600 may include a main flow of fluid 601. System 600 may also include a synthetic jet 601 that communicates a net momentum to fluid conduit 605 at jet receiving portion 613, which in turn creates a motive force/pumping action through fluid conduit 605. The pumping action created by synthetic jet 603 through fluid conduit 605 may extract fluid from main flow of fluid 601 at an intake portion 609 of fluid conduit 605. The extracted fluid may then be carried through fluid conduit 605 and through analysis unit 607, wherein one or more characteristics of the fluid may be measured. For example, in some embodiments, capnography (i.e., the measurement of carbon dioxide [CO₂] in a patient's breath) or oxygraphy (the measurement of oxygen [O₂] in patient's breath) may be performed on the patient. In some embodiments, the measurement of nitrogen oxides (NOx) may be a characteristic that is measured. Other characteristics may also be measured. For more information relating to sidestream analysis, see U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20080041172 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/771,268, entitled “Sidestream Gas Sampling System with Closed Sample Circuit), which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In some embodiments, the analyzed fluid may be ejected from fluid conduit 605 at ejection portion 611. FIG. 7 illustrates a sensor assembly for sidestream gas analysis according to various embodiments of the invention.

In some instances, a synthetic jet eductor pump according to various embodiments of the invention may be utilized in cooling applications, such as, for example, the cooling of electronics or in other cooling applications. FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a synthetic jet 801 according to various embodiments of the invention that is used to move fluid (e.g., air) through a fluid conduit 803 and onto one or more objects 805 a-n (e.g., electronic components) to cool one or more objects 805 a-n. The net momentum established by synthetic jet 801 at jet receiving portion 813 of fluid conduit 803 pumps air (or other fluid or gas) from a first area 807 into intake portion 809, through fluid conduit 803, and out of ejection portion 811 onto one or more objects 805 a-n. The air from first area 807 may be of a temperature lower than that of the one or more objects 805 a-n (as electronic objects may become hot during operation), thus exchanging heat with objects 805 a-n and cooling objects 805 a-n. In some instances, the use of a synthetic jet eductor pump according to various embodiments of the invention as a cooling system provides the advantage that the coolant air is not already heated by the device to be cooled, as the coolant air supplied from outside the device. In some embodiments, the first area 807 from which the cooling fluid (e.g., air) is taken is generally thermally isolated from where the fluid will be expelled once the cooling fluid has come into contact with heated objects 805 a-n. As such, inlet 809 may be located at one side of a device exterior 815, while an exit 817 from which the cooling fluid is vented after exchanging heat with objects 805 a-n, is located on an opposite side of device exterior (or at least as far away as possible from inlet portion 809.

The various systems and apparatuses described herein may operate using various system configurations as appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, some embodiments may utilize more or less components than those described herein. In some embodiments, components may be duplicated and/or oriented differently.

Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment. 

1. A fluid pump comprising: a synthetic jet actuator that includes: a vibratable membrane, an actuating portion that vibrates the vibratable membrane, a pump chamber coupled to the vibratable membrane, and a pump conduit in fluid communication with the pump chamber such that vibration of the membrane draws fluid into the pump conduit and ejects fluid from the pump conduit to create a net momentum of fluid in a predetermined direction; and a fluid conduit having an intake portion, an ejection portion, and a jet receiving portion therebetween, wherein the jet receiving portion is in fluid communication with the pump conduit, the intake portion arranged to be placed in communication with a source of fluid, wherein the net momentum of fluid is communicated to the fluid conduit at the jet receiving portion to create a flow of fluid in the fluid conduit from the intake portion to the ejection portion.
 2. The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein vibration of the vibratable membrane compresses and expands the volume of the pump chamber, causing fluid to be drawn into and ejected from the pump conduit.
 3. The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein at least the actuating portion is enclosed within a sealed container.
 4. The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein the vibratable membrane and the actuating portion are surrounded by a sealed container, wherein the vibratable membrane is an airtight barrier between first and second portions of the sealed container such that the first portion of the sealed container isolated on a first side of the vibratable membrane forms the pump chamber and the second portion of the sealed container isolated on a second side of the vibratable membrane forms a second pump chamber.
 5. The fluid pump of claim 3, wherein a second pump conduit is in fluid communication with the second pump chamber and the fluid conduit, and wherein vibration of the membrane draws fluid into and ejects fluid out of the second pump conduit to create a second net momentum of fluid in the predetermined direction, wherein the fluid conduit includes a second jet receiving portion between the intake portion and the ejection portion wherein the second net momentum of fluid is communicated to the fluid conduit at the second jet receiving portion to create a flow of fluid in the fluid conduit from the intake portion to the ejection portion.
 6. The fluid pump of claim 5, wherein jet receiving portion and the second jet receiving are generally located at the same fluid flow point in the fluid tube.
 7. The fluid pump of claim 5, wherein the jet receiving portion and the second jet receiving portion are located successively along fluid flow within the fluid conduit.
 8. The fluid pump of claim 7, wherein the jet receiving portion and the second jet receiving portion are spaced such that the net momentum and the second net momentum create a peristaltic motion of fluid within the fluid conduit.
 9. The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein the actuating portion comprises an electromagnetic device that causes vibration of the membrane.
 10. The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein the intake portion extracts fluid from a mainstream flow of fluid for measurement of one or more characteristics of the extracted fluid.
 11. The fluid pump of claim 10, wherein the mainstream flow of fluid is part of a breathing circuit such that the mainstream flow of fluid comprises exhaled breath from a living organism.
 12. The fluid pump of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more characteristics of the extracted fluid comprises a concentration of carbon dioxide within the extracted fluid.
 13. The fluid pump of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more characteristics of the extracted fluid comprises a concentration of oxygen within the extracted fluid.
 14. The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein the flow of fluid in the fluid conduit extracts fluid having a first temperature from the source of fluid at the intake portion and expels the extracted fluid from the ejection portion onto one or more objects having a second temperature, the first temperature being less than the second temperature such that the fluid expelled from the ejection portion of the fluid conduit cools the one or more objects.
 15. A method of pumping fluid through a fluid conduit, the fluid conduit having an intake portion, an ejection portion and a jet receiving portion therebetween, the intake portion arranged to be placed in communication with a source of fluid, wherein a pump conduit is in fluid communication with the jet receiving portion of the fluid conduit, the pump conduit being in fluid communication with a pump chamber coupled to a vibratable membrane, the method comprising: vibrating the vibratable membrane so as to alternately draw fluid into and eject fluid from the pump conduit to create a net momentum of fluid in a predetermined direction, wherein the net momentum of fluid is communicated to the fluid conduit at the jet receiving portion to create a flow of fluid in the fluid conduit from the intake portion to the ejection portion.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein vibration of the vibratable membrane compresses and expands the volume of the pump chamber, causing fluid to be drawn into and ejected from the pump conduit.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the vibratable membrane is vibrated using an actuating portion.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein at least the actuating portion is enclosed within a sealed container.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the actuating portion comprises an electromagnetic device that vibrates the vibratable membrane.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the vibratable membrane and the actuating portion are surrounded by a sealed container, wherein the vibratable membrane is an airtight barrier between first and second portions of the sealed container such that the first portion of the sealed container isolated on a first side of the vibratable membrane forms the pump chamber and the second portion of the sealed container isolated on a second side of the vibratable membrane forms a second pump chamber.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein a second pump conduit is in fluid communication with the second pump chamber and the fluid conduit, and wherein vibration of the membrane draws fluid into and ejects fluid out of the second pump conduit to create a second net momentum of fluid in the predetermined direction, wherein the fluid conduit includes a second jet receiving portion between the intake portion and the ejection portion wherein the second net momentum of fluid is communicated to the fluid conduit at the second jet receiving portion to create a flow of fluid in the fluid conduit from the intake portion to the ejection portion.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein jet receiving portion and the second jet receiving are generally located at the same fluid flow point in the fluid tube.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the jet receiving portion and the second jet receiving portion are located successively along fluid flow within the fluid conduit.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the jet receiving portion and the second jet receiving portion are spaced such that the net momentum and the second net momentum create a peristaltic motion of fluid within the fluid conduit.
 25. The method of claim 15, wherein the intake portion extracts fluid from a mainstream flow of fluid for measurement of one or more characteristics of the extracted fluid.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the mainstream flow of fluid is part of a breathing circuit such that the mainstream flow of fluid comprises exhaled breath from a living organism.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of the one or more characteristics of the extracted fluid comprises a concentration of carbon dioxide within the extracted fluid.
 28. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of the one or more characteristics of the extracted fluid comprises a concentration of oxygen within the extracted fluid.
 29. The method of claim 15, wherein the flow of fluid in the fluid conduit extracts fluid having a first temperature from the source of fluid at the intake portion and expels the extracted fluid from the ejection portion onto one or more objects having a second temperature, the first temperature being less than the second temperature such that the fluid expelled from the ejection portion of the fluid conduit cools the one or more objects.
 30. A fluid pump comprising: a fluid conduit having an intake portion, an ejection portion, and a jet receiving portion therebetween, the intake portion arranged to be placed in communication with a source of fluid; and means for creating a net momentum of fluid in a predetermined direction, wherein the net momentum of fluid is communicated to the fluid conduit at the jet receiving portion to create a flow of fluid in the fluid conduit from the intake portion to the ejection portion.
 31. The fluid pump of claim 30, wherein the means for creating a net momentum of fluid in the predetermined direction comprises a vibratable membrane, a pump chamber coupled to the vibratable membrane, a pump conduit and means for vibrating the vibratable membrane, such that vibration of the membrane draws fluid into the pump conduit and ejects fluid from the pump conduit to create the net momentum of fluid in the predetermined direction
 32. The fluid pump of claim 31, wherein the vibratable membrane and means for vibrating are surrounded by a sealed container, wherein the vibratable membrane is an airtight barrier between first and second portions of the sealed container such that the first portion of the sealed container isolated on a first side of the vibratable membrane forms the pump chamber and the second portion of the sealed container isolated on a second side of the vibratable membrane forms a second pump chamber.
 33. The fluid pump of claim 32, wherein a second pump conduit is in fluid communication with the second pump chamber and the fluid conduit, and wherein vibration of the membrane draws fluid into and ejects fluid out of the second pump conduit to create a second net momentum of fluid in the predetermined direction, wherein the fluid conduit includes a second jet receiving portion between the intake portion and the ejection portion wherein the second net momentum of fluid is communicated to the fluid conduit at the second jet receiving portion to create a flow of fluid in the fluid conduit from the intake portion to the ejection portion.
 34. The fluid pump of claim 33, wherein jet receiving portion and the second jet receiving are generally located at the same fluid flow point in the fluid tube.
 35. The fluid pump of claim 33, wherein the jet receiving portion and the second jet receiving portion are located successively along fluid flow within the fluid conduit.
 36. The fluid pump of claim 35, wherein the jet receiving portion and the second jet receiving portion are spaced such that the net momentum and the second net momentum create a peristaltic motion of fluid within the fluid conduit.
 37. The fluid pump of claim 30, wherein the means for vibrating includes an electromagnetic device that causes vibration of the membrane.
 38. The fluid pump of claim 30, wherein the intake portion extracts fluid from a mainstream flow of fluid for measurement of one or more characteristics of the extracted fluid.
 39. The fluid pump of claim 38, wherein the mainstream flow of fluid is part of a breathing circuit such that the mainstream flow of fluid comprises exhaled breath from a living organism.
 40. The fluid pump of claim 39, wherein at least one of the one or more characteristics of the extracted fluid comprises a concentration of carbon dioxide within the extracted fluid.
 41. The fluid pump of claim 39, wherein at least one of the one or more characteristics of the extracted fluid comprises a concentration of oxygen within the extracted fluid.
 42. The fluid pump of claim 30, wherein the flow of fluid in the fluid conduit extracts fluid having a first temperature from the source of fluid at the intake portion and expels the extracted fluid from the ejection portion onto one or more objects having a second temperature, the first temperature being less than the second temperature such that the fluid expelled from the ejection portion of the fluid conduit cools the one or more objects. 